Are there any risks if I leave my protruding jaw alone?

Doctor's Answers 1

Dentist, Oral Surgeon

Thanks for the question. Not proceeding with a jaw surgery does not bring about any risks per se, however it means that you may continue to face certain functional difficulties associated to a protruding jaw (underbite) such as:

Inefficient biting and chewing
Worn down tooth enamel, increasing susceptibility to tooth decay, sensitivity and other dental issues
Chronic headaches and temporomandibular joint disorder
Affected speech clarity

Aesthetically, you may also find that your jaw/face is imbalance or your chin seems more prominent. Some people find that it affects their appearance and hence their confidence.

I have encountered patients who have a prominent chin but do not want to proceed with jaw surgery for various reasons too. The important thing is that you make an informed decision.

Similar Questions

Aesthetic Medicine

How can I reduce the protrusion of my upper lip?

In order to decide which method would most effective, we would need to assess and treat the cause of the protrusion. If it is due to protruding upper teeth which are flaring out and causing the lip to come forward, braces or Invisalign treatment would be ideal to reduce the protrusion. There may be a possibility that extractions of some teeth may be required to provide some space for the upper front teeth to move back into. Sometimes, it may be due to the imbalance of the upper and lower jaws.

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Answered By

Dr Geraldine Lee

Orthodontist

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Orthodontics

Can Invisalign or braces help to fix a slanted jaw without the need for jaw surgery?

It is great that you are thinking about correcting your bite. With skeletal issues such as a slanted jaw, surgery is indeed required in order to achieve a good stable bite. However depending on the degree of skeletal discrepancy (slanted jaw) braces / invisalign are still options for you to consider in order to straighten out your teeth and give you a good smile. Straight and aligned teeth can be achieved but there are limitations so it depends on what your ideal smile is! My suggestion would be to consider all your options and if needed seek a second opinion.

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